Device for protecting container-grown seedling root systems and method for its manufacture

Abstract

A container-grown seedling protective device includes a flexible expanse including an array of generally cylindrical pods or pockets, each pod in the array of pods configured for holding a container-grown seedling root ball therein. Each pod is configured for holding a single seedling therein separate from one or more adjacent seedling root balls held by adjacent pockets, and each of the plural pods is detachably connected to an adjacent one of the plural pockets by a frangible web extending therebetween. Each pod can be perforated in at least a bottom region thereof to provide permeability and each pod can be infused with fertilizer of the like. A method for manufacturing a protective device for container-grown seedlings includes laying down a contiguous length of a first laminar film; positioning a plurality of spaced rods of defined length atop the length of first film; laying down a contiguous length of a second laminar film atop the first film and the spaced rods; adhering the first and the second films to form a seam along a congruent edge thereof beyond the reach of the rods and along plural spaced apart seams between the rods, the plural spaced apart seams extending from the congruent edge like teeth of a comb, thereby to form a contiguous laminate; and removing the rods from between the seams to form individuated substantially sealed plural pockets defined by the seams, the pockets being configured to receive therein root balls of container-grown seedlings.

1 . A container-grown seedling protective device comprising:
 a flexible expanse including
 an array of plural pods, 
 each pod in the array of pods configured for holding a container-grown seedling root ball therein. 
   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each pod in the array is generally elongate and cylindrical in shape to a define corresponding plural long axis, and wherein the plural pods are arrayed with their plural long axes extending generally in parallel with one another. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the plural long axes of the plural pods are generally regularly spaced in the array. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each pod is shaped and dimensioned releasably to receive a container-grown seedling root ball therein. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein, between at least two of the arrayed pods, the expanse is configured to be separated into two or more sub-expanses each including at least one such pod. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein between the at least two of the arrayed pods, the expanse is perforated to facilitate separation thereof into the two or more sub-expanses each including at least one such pod. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein at least a lower region of each of the plural pods is perforated. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible expanse includes a rear material layer and a front material layer, the front layer being formed into the array of plural pods and being secured to the rear layer therebetween and along substantially coextensive bottom edges of the rear layer and the front layer. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the rear and front material layers include plural perforations along plural lines that are substantially parallel with the plural long axes, the perforations configured to enable manual detachment of adjacent ones of the plural pods along one or more of the plural lines. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein each pod in the array is substantially sealingly separated from each other. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein each pod in the array is dimensioned nominally to have a greater height than that of a seedling root ball to produce a protective rim of the pod extending above the upper surface of the root ball. 
   
   
       12 . A container-grown seedling protective device comprising:
 an array of plural generally cylindrical pockets, each of the plural pockets including a closed bottom and an open top, and each of the plural pockets configured for holding a single seedling therein separate from one or more adjacent seedling root balls held by adjacent pockets,   each of the plural pockets being detachably connected to an adjacent one of the plural pockets by a frangible web extending therebetween, the structure of each frangible web permitting the array of plural pockets when holding plural container-grown seedling root balls therein to be configured in a manipulable size and shape that facilitates plural-container-grown seedling handling and singular container-grown seedling dispensing from the array.   
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , the structure of each frangible web further permitting the array of plural pockets when being loaded with plural container-grown seedling root balls therein to be configured for ease of manufacture into a generally planar expanse and when so loaded to be re-configured into a generally cylindrical bundle. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 12 , the structure of each frangible web further permitting the array of plural pockets when being loaded with plural container-grown seedling root balls therein to be configured for ease of manufacture into a generally planar expanse and when so loaded to remain configured in the generally planar expanse. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the array of plural pockets is configured to align long axes thereof in generally parallel spaced-apart arrangement with one another and further in generally parallel arrangement relative to an axis in the plane of the array. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the array of plural pockets is configured to align long axes thereof in generally parallel spaced-apart arrangement with one another and further in generally perpendicular arrangement relative to an axis in the plane of the array. 
   
   
       17 . A method for manufacturing a protective device for container-grown seedlings, the method comprising:
 laying down a contiguous length of a first laminar film;   positioning a plurality of spaced rods of defined length atop the length of first film;   laying down a contiguous length of a second laminar film atop the first film and the spaced rods;   adhering the first and the second films to form a seam along a congruent edge thereof beyond the reach of the rods and along plural spaced apart seams between the rods, the plural spaced apart seams extending from the congruent edge like teeth of a comb, thereby to form a contiguous laminate; and   removing the rods from between the seams to form individuated substantially sealed plural pockets defined by the seams, the pockets being configured to receive therein root balls of container-grown seedlings.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the adhering includes applying heat. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the adhering includes applying pressure. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fist and second films each are formed with a poly surface and an opposing nylon surface, and wherein the laying down of the first and second films is with their respective poly surfaces facing one another. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein pockets are formed where rods were, which further comprises:
 die stamping the adhered first and second films to produce perforations between at some of the adjacent formed pockets, thereby to facilitate dispensing of one or more pockets from the contiguous laminate.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the rods are generally cylindrical. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  which further comprises:
 perforating each pocket at least in a lower region thereof to promote permeability of moisture and nutrient therethrough from soil when such seedlings are planted.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  which further comprises:
 infusing at least one of the first and second films with fertilizer or the like.